Aerora has partnered with Lantronix to deliver a fully integrated camera and gimbal system designed to reduce engineering overhead and accelerate time-to-market for original equipment manufacturers.
Overcoming Technical and Economic Barriers
OEMs of drones and robotics face significant pressure to maintain high standards for imaging while meeting strict compliance requirements, including NDAA, DIU Blue status, and AUVSI Green cyber security. Technical challenges such as sensor reliability, navigational precision, and environmental factors often conflict with economic constraints like high development costs and time-to-market pressures. To address these hurdles, Aerora provides a turnkey solution that handles the full lifecycle from engineering and integration to volume production.
Integrated Edge AI Technology
The system utilizes the Lantronix Open-Q 8250 System-on-Module (SoM), which is powered by the Qualcomm Dragonwing QCS8250 processor. This hardware delivers the processing capabilities required for Edge AI, advanced computational imaging, and real-time situational awareness. The integration of the Teledyne FLIR Hadron 640 series camera allows the system to provide simultaneous 4K video and high-resolution thermal imaging.
Breakthrough Modular Design
The all-in-one module includes the camera, gimbal motors, housing, and telemetry interface. Key technical features include:
- Smart Interface Design: An OEM adapter board architecture allows for rapid drop-in integration into existing flight control systems.
- Communications: CAN BUS support enables drone telemetry and gimbal control out of the box.
- Software Support: Included SDKs and interface protocols facilitate additional integrations, supported by Prism ISP and Prism AI for super resolution and high-speed target tracking.
Verified Performance and Compliance
The solution is manufactured in Vietnam and meets all NDAA compliance requirements, providing a secure supply chain for global clients. In a practical application, an OEM successfully integrated this dual optical and thermal (EO/IR) camera solution into a drone system, leveraging the 64MP optical resolution and precision-engineered 3-axis gimbal. This collaboration significantly reduced development timelines and resource allocation.
Michael Walters, Vice President of Product Management, Teledyne FLIR OEM, “Our collaboration with Lantronix adds flexibility for integrators developing thermal-enabled AI-based platforms. Our SWaP-optimized IR camera modules and ultra-low embedded software processing power simplify thermal management and extend battery life for autonomy applications.”
